Pietro Faccioli

 

University of Trento and TIFPA

 

Can Nuclear Theory help find an anti-viral drug for COVID 19?

 

video-meeting,
May 20, 2020; 9:30 AM

 

ABSTRACT

 

Research performed at Trento has led to developing computational methods for molecular simulations, exploiting mathematical methods originally developed within the framework of theoretical Nuclear Physics. These new approaches have made it possible for the first time to reconstruct the entire folding process of biologically relevant proteins, with an atomic level of resolution. Based on this technological advancement, an entirely new approach to rational drug discovery named PPI-FIT was conceived. This is based on the rationale of blocking the folding process, rather than inhibiting the biological function of native proteins. In view of the ongoing pandemic emergency, INFN has recently devoted a huge amount of computational resources to apply this protocol to identify a drug that could hamper COVID-19 viral infection at its early stage. The obtained theoretical results suggest a strategy for re-converting an existing and FDA approved compound to serve as an anti-viral drug. Experimental validation of these predictions is on-going and results may even become available before the day this seminar is scheduled.